The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

When Chen Fengjiao spoke, everyone in the room reacted differently.

Li Zhi’s gaze shifted. ’I can’t believe Gu’er’s mother is so biased,’ he thought. ’Should I try to smooth things over? No. If I do, Gu’er will be the one who suffers. Even if this is none of my business, I can’t help them treat her unfairly.’

Anger flashed in Liu Yuan’s eyes. When Gu’er had told him she’d found her birth parents, he had been happy for her. He never expected her mother to be like this. ’Is she even Gu’er’s real mother?!’

Lin Shan was stunned. He hadn’t expected his wife to intervene the moment Sui’er started crying, so blatantly taking her side. ’Where does that leave Gu’er?!’

Lin Shan looked at Gu’er.

Gu’er’s face was unreadable, but her eyes were cold, concealing a deep disappointment within.

’It seems Feng Jiao’s actions have broken Gu’er’s heart.’

"Feng Jiao."

Lin Shan called out.

Chen Fengjiao looked at her husband, then at Sui’er, who was gazing at her with a pitiful expression. A look of resolve flashed in her eyes.

"Feng Jiao, we are parents. It is a parent’s failure when a child is raised but not taught. I bear much of the responsibility for Sui’er becoming the way she is today. As parents, we must protect our children from being bullied. But when she is wrong, she must be corrected and taught. We can’t spoil her and let her lose her sense of right and wrong. This is no small matter. I am asking her to apologize so that she learns her lesson. By defending her like this, you are not helping her; you are harming her."

After speaking, Lin Shan turned to Sui’er and said, "Lin Sui’er, I’ll ask you one more time. Were you wrong, and will you apologize to your older sister and Liu Yuan?"

Lin Shan’s voice wasn’t loud, but it made Lin Sui’er flinch. She could feel that her father was truly angry this time.

’Should I apologize?’

Lin Sui’er looked at everyone in the room through the watery mist of her tears.

’Dad is angry. Lin Gu’er is glaring at me. Mom looks at me with pity in her eyes. Even Li Zhi is looking at Gu’er, as if he’s taking her side. Why does everyone have to be so nice to Lin Gu’er? I’m the young lady of this house, the only daughter! It was Gu’er who stole everything from me! I did nothing wrong, and I will not admit to anything. I will never bow my head to Lin Gu’er.’

"Mom, Mom! I’m not wrong! Don’t force me! If you force me to admit I’m wrong, how can I even stay in this family?"

Lin Sui’er pleaded, pulling on Chen Fengjiao’s hand.

"Alright, stop crying. Mommy will handle this. With me here, I’d like to see who dares force you."

Chen Fengjiao caressed her daughter’s face, the sight of her tears stinging her own eyes. She glanced at Gu’er, thinking her older daughter was being a bit unreasonable. ’No matter what Sui’er did, she’s still her younger sister. Why can’t she just speak up and help smooth things over?’

"Feng Jiao!"

Lin Shan shouted, displeased.

"I know, I know! Sui’er shouldn’t have said those things. But look at her state! What more do you want from her? If someone has to apologize, then I, her mother, will apologize on her behalf. Will that suffice?"

Chen Fengjiao felt upset, extremely upset. After saying this to Lin Shan, she turned to Gu’er.

"Gu’er, Sui’er was wrong to speak that way today, but you were not blameless either. You brought a strange man home without a word to the family. Bringing someone home without consulting your parents was improper in the first place. Sui’er has a sharp tongue and spoke inappropriately, but your actions weren’t perfect either. For the sake of your sister, just let it go. As for you, Liu Yuan, this is your first time visiting. Even if you are Gu’er’s friend, as a guest, you should have some sense of propriety. If you feel my daughter was out of line, then I will apologize to you for her."

Chen Fengjiao looked at Gu’er and Liu Yuan. Though she spoke of an apology, she was actually blaming both of them. In her mind, it was Gu’er and Liu Yuan who were wrong first, which led to this whole scene.

"Feng Jiao, what are you talking about? This is Gu’er’s home! She has every right to bring people back. How can you speak to her like that?!"

Lin Shan was truly furious this time. The saying goes, "Discipline your son in public, admonish your wife in private." That was why he was willing to lecture Lin Sui’er in front of everyone, but he was reluctant to make Chen Fengjiao lose face. She was his wife, an elder in the family, and he could always speak with her later in private. But Chen Fengjiao had gone too far this time. Even if her heart ached for Sui’er, she should not have treated Gu’er this way.

"What do you mean by that?"

Chen Fengjiao stared at Lin Shan in disbelief. He was actually embarrassing her in front of everyone.

"Dad, don’t say any more. Let me speak."

Gu’er had been standing for a long time. It was the first time she had spoken, and her voice was a little hoarse.

Lin Shan sighed inwardly. ’Today’s events have surely left a scar on Gu’er’s heart. Feng Jiao was wrong, and this mistake... it might just shatter the bond between her and Gu’er beyond repair.’

"Mom, Dad only wants Sui’er to apologize because she shouldn’t have spoken that way. It doesn’t matter who she was speaking to or what their status is. Dad just wants her to realize she was wrong. He’s making her apologize for her own good. Mom, are you really so set against it?"

Gu’er questioned Chen Fengjiao. No matter what, this was the woman who had given birth to her. Even if they weren’t close, she was still her mother. ’I didn’t grow up by her side, and I never intended to compete with Lin Sui’er for affection. We’re not the same age; I’m not going to argue with a child.’

But when a child is wrong, they must be taught. She might not know how to raise a child herself, but she understood the principle.

Chen Fengjiao looked at Gu’er, her heart a mess of complicated feelings. For so many years, she had felt guilty about Gu’er, missed her, and dreamed of finding her to give her the best life possible. And then she did find her. But this daughter, while she looked just like her, had a personality that was nothing like what she’d imagined.

’After Gu’er returned, I tried my best to be good to her, to the point of fawning over her. I bought her clothes, shoes... anything she wanted, I would buy it for her.’

’During that time, I treated Gu’er even better than I treated Sui’er. I wanted to compensate her.’

’But Gu’er wasn’t affectionate with me. She didn’t cling to my side like Sui’er, calling me "Mom" so sweetly and clinging to my arm while acting cute. That left me feeling disappointed.’

’Gu’er is quiet, stubborn, and far too opinionated. I didn’t want her to find a man from the village, but she insisted on liking Sun Jiaming. She even brought up some nonsense about choosing her own marriage. The whole affair has been festering inside me, making me feel suffocated.’

’I wanted her to get a respectable job, but what does she do? She insists on setting up her own stall to sell mountain produce, leaving early and returning late every day, mixing with those same villagers.’

’Then she started going to school, coming home in the middle of the night and ruining my sleep. School itself is a good thing, and she made a good classmate, Li Zhi. He’s not bad; I’ve taken a liking to him.’

’But now, with the New Year approaching, instead of staying quietly at home, she insists on running around, drinking with some other man, and even letting Li Zhi see it! Isn’t she just making trouble for herself? If people found out, how could I ever show my face in public again? I just want to cherish her, love her, be good to her, give her everything, and let her live a good life! Why can’t she just listen to me? Why can’t she just do as I say? Why must she always defy me, always cause trouble?’